Ore-concentrating apparatus



(No Model.) 3 S.heetsSheet 1.

G. F. GOULD.

ORE OONGBNTRATING APPARATUS.

No. 385,551. Patented July 3, 1888.

3 Sheets--Sheet 2..

G. P. GOULD.

ORE GONGENTRATING APPARATUS.

(No Model.)

Patented July 3, 1888.

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3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

7 G. P. GOULD.

ORE GONOENTRATING APPARATUS.

No. 385,551. Patented July 3, 1888.

Fig. 3.

N. PETERS. Photo-Lilhognphan-Mlaxhingion. l), C)

GEORGE F. GOULD, OF GRASS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF TYVO- THIRDSTO WILLIAM H. M. COBB AND DANIEL F. NORTON, BOTH OF DAYTON, NEVADA.

ORE-CONCENTRATING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 385.551, dated July3,1888.

Application filed May 17, 1887. Serial No. 238,560. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. GOULD, a citizen of the United States,residing'at Grass Valley, in the county of Nevada and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inOre-Concentrating Apparatus; and I do hereby declare that the fol lowingis a full, clear, and exact description of my said invention, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in the concentration of ores of theprecious metals by wet processcsavherein the ore is reduced to pulp bycrushing or grinding with water, and is then distributed over inclinedsurfaces for settlement of the metallic particles by gravitation.

The principle upon whichmy apparatus is constructed to work consists inprogressive dilution of the ore pulp as it comes from the mill orbattery and its distribution over and along stationary surfaces, theareas of which are increased with the dilution. The dilution is carriedon by dividing and subdividing the pulp into separate portions andadding clear water to each portion. The conducting and concentratingsurfaces by which this division is effected are stationary or withoutshaking motion, and are suitably inclined to cause the diluted pulp toflow at a rate of speed consistent with the gravitationof the metallicparticles.

The object sought to be attained in and by my improvement is theseparation from, ore pulp of these particles of extreme grades offineness which are found most difficult of concentration and are knownto be lost in the tail ings during the ordinary wet processes andoperations.

To this end my improvement consists in the construction and combinationof conductors and concentratingsurfaces, as hereinafter described, andpointed out in the claim.

The following description explains the manner in which I construct andoperate my said apparatus, and the accompanying drawings thereinreferred to by figures and letters represent the apparatus as I haveproduced and arranged it for operation.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the relative positions and themanner of setting up the conductors and eoncentrating-surfacesconstituting my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is an elevation taken fromthe end,with parts in section. Fig. 3 is a plan view.

. A represents a crushing or grinding mill of the usual kind, and B asluice or open conductor having suitable capacity to take away the pulpand slightly inclined from the level of the discharge at the mill. 6o

C(Jare separate conductors leading laterally in both directions awayfrom the end of the first-mentioned conductor and having inclinationfrom that end. The combined areas of the bottoms of these conductorsafford an extent of surface considerably in excess of that provided inthe first conductor, and the whole number divides the pulp into bodiesor por tions of about uniform bulk.

. D are outlets and conducting-spouts leading from each space 0, andterminating just over a distributing-trcugh, E, of which the outlet isplaced at the higher end of an inclined table or surface, G, running thefull length of the trough, and also arranged on both sides of 5 it. Eachof these surfaces G is divided by longitudinal partitions F F intospaces of about equal area, and the whole number gives a breadth ofsurface considerably in excess of the conductor that supplies it withmaterial.

H is a water pipe or flume from the supply at hand, and I I are branchpipes leading from the pipe H to the several conducting-spaces B and CO, and provided with stop-cocks J J to control the supply.

In constructing the trough E provision is made for retaining whatevermetallic particles will settle from the material running through. Forthis purpose the trough is made with slop ing sides, and the spacewithin is broken by shelves or inclined partitions E E, 820., placed onebelow the other and projecting toward the middle of the pulptrongh onebeyond the other, as shown in Fig. 2. Each of these shelves dischargesby cutlets ff from one to the other 9 in turn, and the lowest one intothe bottom space of the main trough.

The conducting-spouts D do not discharge directly into these troughs,but each one dips into a close box, L, the top of which fits around roethe pipe to confine and form what I term a mixing-chamber-that is, aclosed space in which the material is stirred up and its particlesthoroughly distributed by the force of the water introduced from above.Outlets for the diluted material from this chamber are provided at M M,and these discharge upon the topmost shelves, E E, of thedistributingtrough. The open space from the edge of the trough to thebox is covered by an apron to deflect the streams of diluted pulp intothe top spaces. Each spout has a gate, 1), above the discharge, and alsoin the side, at some point below the gate, and an opening, a, forintroducing the end of a water-conductor. Flexible tubes or hose 1, withnozzles to set into the openings at, can be employed for this purpose toadvantage, as they can be uncoupled from the spout D in the operation ofcleaning up, and the streams of water supplied by them are then directedagainst the surfaces for washing off the concentrates.

1? R are tanks set across the lower ends of the concentratingsurfaces Gto receive the tailiugs at such time, and outside of these aresettlingtroughs R It. By means of ap rons S S, set across the tanks P,the concentrates will be carried over the tailings-trough and dischargedinto the troughs R in the operation of cleaning up the concentrates. Theaprons are attached to the ends of the inclined tables by hinges S S,

and when turned up, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, a clearspace is left for the tailings to run off under its edge; or, ifpreferred, the aprons can be attached by open fastenings, that willpermit them to be taken off.

The concentrating-snrfaces incline in two direct-ions from thedistributing-troughs, and are faced with some coarsely-woven fabricsuchas canvasstretched and fastened in place by the longitudinal strips.

The excessive dilution of the material is cal culated to bring themetallic particles into condition most favorable for separation andconcentration, and particularly the finest particles,which exist in agreater or less proportion in all pulp and are the most difiicult tosave.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

In combination with the inclined conceir trating tables or surfaces G,the distributingtrough E, having the shelves or ledges E E arranged oneabove another with outlets, the conductor D and water-supply pipe I, andthe sluiees B O, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand andseal.

GEORGE F. GOULD. [L s] Witnesses:

CHAS. E. KELLY, (l. W. M. SMITH.

